Final Itinerary

Sunday, February, 26

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

4:00 p.m.      Check in time at the Sheraton Jeddah. Luggage can be left with the bell captain if you arrive before your room is ready.

7:30 p.m.      We gathered for a welcome orientation and light dinner at the Executive Lounge level on the 11th floor of our hotel.

Sheraton Jeddah (B, L aloft, D)

Monday, February 27

Jeddah                                                                                                                                            

 6.30 a.m.-11.00a.m. - A buffet breakfast was served in the lounge on the 11th floor, or a more extensive buffet on the lobby level.

Morning:

Following breakfast we attended a meeting with Ahmed Al Omran. Ahmed Al Omran is an independent Saudi journalist. Born and raised in Hofuf, eastern Saudi Arabia, he graduated with a Master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York. He has worked for the National Public Radio in Washington DC, before returning to his home country to become the Saudi correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and more recently for British newspaper Financial Times. He spent last year back at his alma mater Columbia University as a Knight-Bagehot Fellow.

We departed the hotel for the Al Tayebat Museum which is part of the International Tayebat City of Science and Knowledge a three-hundred year old building that was originally the palace of Sheikh Abdul Rauf Khalil. This privately owned four-floor collection has displays ranging from pre-Islamic artefacts, exquisite Islamic manuscripts, old coins and weaponry to stunning furniture, pottery and traditional Saudi dress. Replicas of home interiors from every region are also featured. Exhibits are accompanied by excellent information panels, as well as dioramas of the Kingdom's provinces.  Close by are the offices of the Furqan Educational Group, that instructs youth in the Arabic language so they can better understand the Koran. Meeting us was Mohammad Alrace who runs the international organization. 

Afternoon:

We drove to Jeddah’s historical core where we enjoyed lunch at the home of Sami Nawar, our guide in the old city. Joining us for lunch was Ibrahim Al Mojel, MS '04, MS '10, PhD '10, one of the founders of the Stanford Club of Saudi Arabia, current Vice Chairman of The Saudi EXIM Bank, Board Member at The Saudi National Bank, Raida Investment Company, Awqaf Investment Company, and the Arab Mining Company, as well as former CEO of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (2018-2022). Following lunch, we explored Jeddah’s historical core on foot and by golf cart, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

We returned to the hotel this afternoon for Dr. Bunzel’s first lecture before dinner at Al Nakheel restaurant.

Sheraton Jeddah (B, L, D)

Tuesday, February 28

Jeddah / Abha                                                                                                                                

 6.30 a.m.-11.00a.m. - A buffet breakfast was served in the lounge on the 11th floor, or a more extensive buffet on the lobby level.

Morning:

We took a morning excursion to the Red Sea which contains one of the greatest coral reefs in the world with over 200 species of coral and numerous species of fish found nowhere else in the world. The coral reefs of Saudi Arabia are among the most beautiful and extensive anywhere in the world.  We returned to the hotel in time to have a quick shower and check out.

Afternoon: 

We were hosted for lunch at the American Consulate in Jeddah where we had the opportunity to meet with several Saudi entrepreneurs at themed tables for discussions of the business opportunities and climate in Saudi Arabia today. 

Here is a list of speakers we heard from:

• Mazen Hani Zaki Tamimi spent 32 years at Banque Saudi Fransi, retiring in 2021 as Senior Executive Director and Head of Institutional Banking.  He most recently served as Group Chairman for the Al Murjan Group, a leading Saudi family holding company with interests in commercial and industrial development. Mazen also continues to serve on many local and international boards.  He holds a B.A. in Computer Science from Richmond, The American International University in London.

• Samir Abughazaleh has been the CEO of the International Medical Center (IMC) in Jeddah since 2016. Samir is also the Chairman of the Healthcare Council and a member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce. During his time in IMC, Samir managed the outpatient services and the Patient Experience division, the relations with Mayo Clinic, offered consulting services and health care strategic planning to multiple entities in Saudi, and led ten division directors and 700 staff members at the center. He also participated with a consulting team in improving the supply chain challenges between J&J and CVS pharmacies in Woonsocket Rod Island.

• Tuba Terekli is the MENA Ambassador of Women Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) and the Executive Advisor for the Fakieh Group Tuba Terekli is an international business development and investment expert focusing on futurism, innovation, tech development, and equity investments.  She is an avid supporter of entrepreneurs across borders and an angel investor.  She also serves on many for-profit and non-profit boards, locally and internationally. Her current roles are the Executive Advisor for Fakieh Group and General Manager of Avon Saudi Arabia.  She also currently holds the position as the MENA Ambassador of the Women Entrepreneurship Day Organization.  Terekli is most known for her following past positions: Former Advisor to the Governor of Saudi SME Authority, Co-founder of Qotuf Al Riyadh Development Company, and Co-founder of the first Private Entrepreneurship Foundation in KSA.  Moreover, she established the First Tech Accelerator in Saudi Arabia Flat6LabsJeddah among many other initiatives that she has brought to the entrepreneurial ecosystem since 2011. She has established and managed the Global Entrepreneurship Week, Global Entrepreneurship Network, Creative Business Cup in Saudi Arabia, and serving as a judge in many regional and global competitions.  Furthermore, she has reached out to over 70,000 entrepreneurs in numerous events and works with over 57 countries' top institutes in SME and entrepreneurship development.  She has worked throughout Silicon Valley, Europe, Turkey, GCC, and 13 regions of Saudi Arabia with the various chambers, ministries, universities, accelerator programs, and venture capitals.  She has supported key local policy reforms, the World Bank Studies, regional governmental research, legislative reviews, and development to formulate knowledge-based economies in the region. Terekli’s specialties: Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Angel Investments, Strategic Planning, Marketing, Healthcare, Project Management, Commissioning, SME Development, Policy Making, Growth Stage Companies, Investment Opportunities Evaluations, Due Diligence, Investor Relations, Tech Companies.,

• Mosaed Hulais holds a masters’ degree in Design and Analysis of Vehicle Systems from the University of Huddersfield in the UK. Al Hulis lectures at the Technical College in Jeddah, a board member at the Fine Artists’ House, Founder and Director of Tasami Creative Lab in Jeddah and is also Deputy Director General of the Center. He has participated in several group exhibitions and has helped in organizing different workshops and art training courses around the Kingdom.  Alhulis exhibited in more than 15 local exhibitions, and 4 international ones including Art Dubai and Edge of Arabia’s #COMETOGETHER in 2012. Other international exhibitions included the Saudi Cultural Days Exhibition in Qatar and in Kazakhstan in 2010. Due to his extensive activity in support of the arts movement in Saudi Arabia, he has received several certificates and awards of appreciation, and in 2011, he received an acquisition’s prize during the Contemporary Islamic Art Exhibition.

• Alaa Bukhari is the KSA Director of Bondai, a successful Saudi travel application and A first of its kind in KSA helping Millennial travelers. Through his work in Bondai, he helps tourism vendors publish and manage their trips better to score more and faster bookings. Previously, Alaa was the Head of Business Development in Jeddah and Makkah Regions.

• Dr. Ahmed Altyar is the Chief Business Development Officer and Consultant at Batterjee Medical College BMC, and an Associate Professor of pharmacy practice at the Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University KAU, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from KAU and then received an Advanced Clinical Pharmacy Practice Certificate from the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy in 2012. Dr. Altyar completed an ASHP-accredited pharmacy practice residency and an ASHP-Accredited specialized residency in Health-System Clinical Pharmacy Administration at Banner - University Medical Center Tucson, formerly known as the University of Arizona Medical Center – University Campus. In 2014 he completed his Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Clinical Outcomes and Comparative Effectiveness Research at the Center for Health Outcomes and Pharmacoeconomic Research (HOPE) Center. In 2016, he was awarded a post-graduate Diploma in teaching and learning from KAU. His current research focuses on clinical service management, clinical comparative and effectiveness research, and medical education.

• Majed Garoub is a well-known lawyer in /Jeddah who has been awarded the best Saudi intellectual property lawyer in the Gulf states.  He has a certificate of appreciation from the Supreme Judicial Council for the Service of Justice and an order of Presidential Merit by the President of the French Republic. Majed holds the Ruby Star of Culture and the Arts for his support of legal education worldwide. HE is a former Special counsel to the President of the International Bar Association (UIA) and former Head of National and Regional Activities for the Middle East at the International Bar Association (UIA). He is presently the Chairman of the International Development and Relations Committee of the International Society of Sports Law (IASL) and member of the Board of Directors of the Sports Law Committee of the International Federation of Lawyers (UIA) and the Jeddah American Chamber of Commerce.

• Ms. Bashayer Madani is a Legal Advisor at SELA, a leading events management company based in Jeddah and operates in 28 countries.  In 1995, Sela started as the first official athlete representation company in the region under the name Sela Sports and have since branched out to curate the biggest events in sports, entertainment, and culture.

Following this lively discussion, we continued to the former Haj Terminal at Jeddah Airport where we enjoyed the first-ever Islamic Arts Biennale which is taking place in Jeddah. The event aims to showcase the art and creativity of Islamic culture, from both the past and present. The exhibition examines how the Ka’bah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina create a sense of belonging among Muslims worldwide in reference to their own homes (bayt). There are 44 artists participating, including Saudi artists Ahmed Mater and Sultan Bin Fahd, Egyptian artist Huda Lutfi and Iranian-born Shahpour Pouyan.

5.50 p.m. 

We departed Jeddah on a late afternoon flight to Abha. The city of Abha is the capital of Asir province – a province shares a common border with Yemen and also has a coastline with the Red Sea. The name Asir is in reference to the Asir tribe that inhabits the region. The province is known for its scenic mountain ranges that offer some truly breathtaking views. As a result of the tough mountainous terrain, the region remained relatively isolated for quite some time. 

Evening. We arrived in Abha in two separate groups, trasferred to our hotel and had dinner.

Abha Palace  (B, L, D)

Wednesday, March 1

Abha                                                                                                                                               

 6.30 a.m. - 10.00 a.m. A buffet breakfast was served in the hotel’s restaurant on the fifth floor.

Morning:

We started the day with the second lecture by Faculty Leader Cole Bunzel. After the lecture we departed the hotel to explore the town of Abha, including the local market. Following the market we left Abha and entered the Asir National Park with its striking mountain scenery. The park covers 450,000 hectares of land from the Red Sea coast to the desert areas east of the mountains.  We had great views of Al Souda, at 9,893 ft. above sea level, the country’s highest mountain, and several baboon sightings. The area is known for its dense juniper trees that cover the mountains. From the viewing point on Mount Souda you can see traces of the ancient caravan routes weaving through mountains heavily traveled in the days of camels and horse. We continued on to the Al-Musalla fort in Al-Abu Sarah - the city’s former fortress built mostly to protect rather than as a residence. These forts can be found all over Asir region and bear witness to the area’s history of civilization. We switched over to 4WD vehicles and drove down a winding road full of hairpin bends and magnificent views to the village of Rijal Almaa which was very recently designated a World Heritage site. 

Afternoon:

We enjoyed a simple lunch at the Honey Hut where we had  a chance to taste a wide variety of different local honeys. After lunch we explored the village of Rijjal Almaa which was a natural corridor linking those coming from Yemen and the Levant to Mecca and Medina making it an important regional commercial center. The village consists of about 60 palaces built from natural stone, clay and wood, and the palaces consists of several floors. Our host was Ibrahim, a Flower Man of Tihama. For centuries, these descendants of ancient tribes, lived completely isolated. Their villages had no electricity or paved roads and they lived according to traditional tribal law. Today, their traditional villages consist of ordinary farmsteads which look rather like a watch-tower with a terrace at the top. The thick walls are made either of mud or stone walling with small window openings.  The staircases inside are usually huge and can take up to a quarter of the floor area.  Decoration is discreet but always effective with a few splashes of color or rendered mud bands around the windows.  Doors are often carved and the walls sometimes have vertical drains of lime plaster with strongly molded patterns just below the roof.  The flower crowns worn by the Flower Men and decorative and are worn even as they work in their farms.

We returned to the hotel for a brief rest before driving to the home of Ali Mughawi for a private dinner. Mr. Mughawi is a self-taught man, a writer and scholar versed in the region’s history. His wife, Fatima, is an artist who has learned the traditional motifs women traditionally drew on the interior walls of the homes in Asir. Joining us for dinner was Hashim Aldabbagh, CEO of the Aseer Development Authority (ASDA), which is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Aseer region strategy. 

Abha Palace  (B, L, D) – Please remember to settle any bills with the hotel this evening.

Thursday, March 2

Abha/ Al-Ula

6.30 a.m. - 10.00 a.m. A buffet breakfast was served in the hotel’s restaurant on the fifth floor.

Morning:

We departed early this morning and headed to the Abha airport to fly to Al Ula (with a stopover in Riyadh; lunch was at the airport). Al Ula is home to Saudi Arabia’s most spectacular archaeological site at Madain Salah, built by the Nabataeans around 50 BC when they extended their influence south from Petra in Jordan. Madain Saleh, located roughly halfway between Petra and Mecca, was the Nabatean’s second city. At its greatest extent the Nabataean empire stretched north to Damascus, south to the borders of Yemen, and west to Gaza. 

Afternoon:

We arrived in Al-Ula in the mid afternoon and en route to the Sahary Resort, we stopped at the Elephant Rock, one of the wonders of Madain Salah. This spectacular rock formation resembles an elephant with its trunk touching the ground and has become one of the area’s conic landmarks. Unlike the ornate, hand-carved facades of the nearby Nabataean tombs, the "trunk" and "body" of this monolithic red sandstone beast were shaped by natural forces — millions of years of wind and water erosion. The beauty of the unrefined structure is enhanced by a landscape of golden sands, studded with rocky out-crops, many of which are equally impressive in size and have interesting shapes and figures.

We checked into the hotel where rooms are in permanent tent-like structures designed to look like a desert oasis cloistered by stunning sandstone outcrop. We enjoyed a buffet dinner at the hotel this evening.

Shaden Resort (B, L, D)

Friday, March 3

Al-Ula                                                                                                                                             

 6.30 a.m. -11.00 a.m. A buffet breakfast was served in the dining room of the Shaden Resort.

Morning:

This morning we took golf carts to attend the third lecture from Dr. Bunzel, then headed out to visit Maraya,  a concert hall and event center designed to blend into the surrounding landscape, covered in 9,740 mirrored panels. Afterwards, we headed to Mada’in Salah to explore this spectacular site built by the Nabataeans – a group of nomadic origins from northwest Arabia.  They developed a centralized, monarchical state that controlled the northern end of the overland trade.  Prosperous and skilled they made notable advances in agriculture and water-use, and in masonry and ceramics in which they were much influenced by Greco-Roman styles. 

Afternoon:

We had lunch in the walled city of Al Ula’s old town. Joining us for lunch was Paul Christians, MA’16, PhD ‘22, Cultural Heritage Reserach Manager at the Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU), who joined the team last year after finishing his PhD (in anthropology) from Stanford!. The RCU is a Saudi commission that was established in July 2017 to preserve and develop the 2,000-year-old archeological and historical site of Al-Ula.

Al Ula was founded in 6th century BC, an oasis in the desert valley, with fertile soil and plenty of water. It was located along “Incense Road,” the network of routes that facilitated the trading of spices, silk and other luxury items through Arabia, Egypt and India. Though most of the original houses in the old town were rebuilt over the centuries, there are many remnants of traditional Arab architecture among the ruins. Some of the old stones used in the building foundations came from ancient ruins, and still have Lihyanite markings on them. The town has religious significance as well; Muslims believe Muhammad passed through Al ‘Ula — located about 380 kilometers (240 miles) north of the holy city of Medina — in 630 AD on his way to the Battle of Tabuk between the Arabs and the Byzantines. After being reconstructed in the 13th century, old town Al ‘Ula was inhabited until modern times but its residents slowly left the older infrastructure for the new town of Al Ula. Recent efforts have focused on rebuilding the old town by opening shops and restaurants.

After lunch we took a short tour of the ruins of old Al Ula, then returned to the camp for dinner. Some of the group  attended a fire show at the Elephant Rock after dinner.

Shaden Resort (B, L, D)  – Please remember to settle any bills with the hotel this evening.

Saturday, March 4

Al-Ula / Medina / Riyadh

 6.30 a.m. -11.00 a.m. A buffet breakfast was served in the dining room of the Shaden Resort

Morning:

We departed early this morning by bus for Medina (about a 4 hour drive). In Medina, we stopped first at the King Fahd Glorious Quran Printing Complex, then headed to the center of town to see the Prophet's Mosque from the outside, as non-muslims are not allowed to enter. After a quick boxed lunch we drove to the airport for our flight to Riyadh. 

3:30 p.m. Flight to Riyadh

4:55 p.m.  Arrival in Riyadh

We arrived in Riyadh, the kingdom’s capital city which, when Ibn Saud captured it in 1902, scarcely resembled a nation’s capital. The thick mud walls of the old city were not even half a mile long and the enclosed winding, narrow alleys were barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. However, with the discovery of oil Riyadh has boomed so that the city is almost unrecognizable from 25 years ago. Between 1987 and 1992 the population grew an astounding 49%. The name ar-Riyadh means “the gardens” and refers to the lush date-palm plantations along the Wadi Hanifa on the western side of the city. The metropolis is the capital not only of the kingdom but also of Riyadh governorate, a huge area which includes much of central Saudi Arabia. We were worned about heavy traffic in Riyadh.

We checked into the hotel and enjoyed a buffet dinner.

Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya (B, L, D)

Sunday, March 5

Riyadh

6.30 a.m.-10.00 a.m. - A buffet breakfast was served at the 56th Avenue Diner.

Morning:

This morning we drove to the Diriyah Biennale Foundation for Contemporary Art at Diriyah’s JAX district to view an exhibit that NEOM recently opened to share the recently announced designs of THE LINE with the public. On July 25, 2022 His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Chairman of the NEOM Board of Directors, announced the designs of THE LINE. The announced designs provide the most important characteristics of THE LINE, which is 200 meters wide, 170 kilometers long and 500 meters high. It will eventually accommodate 9 million residents and will be built on a footprint of 34 square kilometers. This small footprint will use less land when compared to other cities of similar capacity and will contribute to conserving 95% of NEOM’s land. THE LINE puts nature ahead of development, envisioning a future for urban communities without streets, cars and emissions. Unlike traditional cities, it will run on 100% renewable energy and prioritize health and well-being over transportation and infrastructure.

After our NEOM visit we continued on to the Prince Saud al Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies for lunch and a discussion on Saudi politics led by Dr. Mansour Al-Marzouqi, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of the Institute.

Afternoon:

Following, we visited the Al Masmak Palace Museum, a mud wall fortress built in the 14th century. We continued on to the Al Rajhi Mosque for a presentation of the role of Islam in Saudi life and society, from our guide Saud. 

Dinner this evening was on our own.

Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya (B, L)

Monday, March 6

Riyadh

6.30 a.m.-10.00 a.m. - A buffet breakfast was served at the 56th Avenue Diner.

Morning:

This morning we had a coffee meeting at the US Embassy where we were joined by diplomatic staff who will discuss the US/Saudi Arabia relations. We continued to the Al Faisal Museum for Arab and Islamic Art located within the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. 

Afterwards we headed to the Ministry of Investment for a talk led by Dr. Munirah Alaboudi, Education Segment Director, who spoke to us about their work. The planned transformation of Saudi Arabia under the Vision 2030 plan is unlocking new opportunities and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) is facilitating access to these opportunities by developing a vibrant cross-government investment ecosystem, while supporting businesses throughout their investment journey. Through a network of dynamic business centers across the Kingdom, MISA partners with local and international businesses of all scales and sizes—from startups to blue chip multinationals—to help make investing in the Kingdom as streamlined and simple as possible.

Afternoon:

We enjoyed lunch at Crazy Pizza with Dr. Alaboudi, then headed to the archaeological site of Diriyyah, whose zenith as capital of most of Arabia came during the reign of Saud the Great who ruled here from 1802-1814. What remains of Diriyyah today is remarkably extensive and evocative of traditional settled life in the region. Explore the Palace of Salwa which has the highest remaining walls in Diriyyah. The remnants of the three floored structure shows the marvelous architecture of stones and clay. The Saad bin Saud Palace is an excellent example of the Najd traditional architecture which uses sun-dried brick for walls and tamarisk beams for roofs. Its wooden doors are decorated with beautiful patters, strengthened by heavy iron nails and bars.

This evening we were hosted by the Stanford Alumni Club in Saudi Arabia, meeting wich was held at the home of Ibrahim al Mojar (whom we met in Jeddah).  In attendance were:

• Mr. Abdullah Alsaeed, MS '16 Management Science and Engineering, Co-founder, CFO and Chief Strategy Officer of Mozn, an Enterprise AI Software company, and our host for the evening.

• Dr. Abdulaziz Al Mana, MS '72 Eng, PHD '78 Eng 

• Mr. Hisham Dawalibi, MS '73 HSc, MS '75 Eng, Owner of Computer House

• Mr. Phillip Arredondo, BA '11, HSc, MA '12, HSc, JD '16 Law, Advisor at the Ministry of Culture

• Mr. Karl Eikenberry, AM '94 HSc, 10 Qtr ('16 Social) HSc, Political Science, Former Ambassador of the U.S. to Afghanistan and Lieutenant General, U.S. Army (retired), senior advisor to the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Defense

• Mr. Talal AlMalki, CRT '16 Bus, Planning and Performance Director at Red Sea Global 

• Mr. Rashed Abdulaziz Al-Rashed, MS '75 En, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Riyadh Bank

• Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Manea, PhD '15 Energy Resources Engineering, Research Scientist & Simulation Engineer at Saudi Aramco 

• H.H. Prince Dr. Turki Saud Al-Saud, PHD '97 Eng Aeronautics and Astronautics, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST)

Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya (B, L, D) – please settle any incidentals this evening

Tuesday, March 7

Riyadh / Dammam / Al Khobar

 6.30 a.m.-10.00 a.m. - A buffet breakfast was served at the 56th Avenue Diner.

Morning:

This morning we headed to the Riyadh’s train station but were unable to catch our train.  Instead, we drove by coach to Al Hofuf – capital of the Al Hasa oasis - where we had lunch at a farm in the oasis. The Al Hasa oasis is home to over 3 million palm trees, the ruins of several abandoned cities, over 150 sparkling springs, serene green expanses, and so much more. Recognizing its unique heritage in UNESCO, in 2018, inscribed Al-Hasa as Arabia’s fifth World Heritage Site, joining Madain Salah, historic Jeddah, Diriyyah and the rock art of Ha’il on the World Heritage Site list.

Afternoon:

After lunch in the oasis we drove to Al Khobar (approximately 1.5 hours) and checked in to our hotel.

This evening we were invited to a party hosted at the U.S. Consulate in Dhahran by Consul General David Edginton, to celebrate graduates of California universities living in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. 

Le Meridien Al Khobar (B, L, D)

Wednesday, March 8

Al Khobar

 6.30 a.m. -10.30 a.m. -  A buffet breakfast was served in Le Café de Paris restaurant at our hotel.

Morning:

We started our day with a visit to the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, an arts center developed by Saudi Aramco incorporating a museum, library, cinema, auditorium and lecture halls. It is known locally as “Ithra”, an Arabic word meaning enrichment.  

Afternoon:

After lunch at Ithra, we continued on to the ARAMCO headquarters for a tour. Started in the 1920s with Bahrain Petroleum Co., a subsidiary of Standard Oil of California, the Saudi government gave the company a concession to explore for oil in Saudi Arabia. After four years, Dammam’s Well Number 7, brought success to the company in 1938. In 1944, the company name was changed from California-Arabian Standard Oil Co. to Arabian American Oil Co. (or Aramco). In 1980, the Saudi government increased its interest in Aramco to 100%.

This evening we had our farewell dinner hosted by Ms. Rasha Alturki, daughter of a Stanford MBA Alum, and her husband Mr. Mazin Al Romaih. We were joined by fellow Stanford Alumni:

• Mr. Abdulaziz Alfalih, MBA '15 Business Administration (Public Management and Social Innovation), Partner and Board Member at Badwa Capital, and our host for the evening.

• Dr. Hamza Aljamaan, MS '13 Petroleum Engineering, PHD '17 Petroleum Engineering, CRT '16 Executive Short Program (GSB Ignite FT), Project Development and Commissioning Section Head at Aramco

• Mr. Nooreddeen Albokhari, MS '17 Petroleum Engineering, CRT '17 Executive Short Program (GSB Ignite PT, Reservoir Management Supervisor at Aramco

• Mr. Khalid Fagih, 2022 CRT, SEP, CEO/Managing Director, Red Sea International Co

• Mr. Ziad Sami Al-Labban, MS '90 Petroleum Engineering, CRT '02 SEP, former CEO of Sadara Chemical Company 

• Mr. Abdulaziz Almajed, MS '81 Petroleum Engineering, 3 Qtr Petroleum Engineering, Adjunct Professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals and College of Petroleum Engineering & Geosciences 

• Ms. Abrar Alabbad, MS '15 Geophysics, Geologist at Aramco, Public Relations Officer at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

Le Meridien Al Khobar (B, L, D)  – please settle any incidentals this evening

Many people will transfer this evening to the airport for their flights home.

Wednesday, March 9

Al Khobar / Dammam / Home

 6.30 a.m.-10.30 a.m. - A buffet breakfast was served in the Le Café de Paris restaurant for those still in town.

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight home. Check-out time at the hotel is at 12:00p.m.

(B)